I've been taking Naltrexone for 6 months now, and have felt little or no reduction in craving for alcohol. I haven't been active in this forum either. This thread was helpful, as was the one I read before and need to try to find again, which had to do with how long extinction takes. Frankly, I had really been counting on a speedier reduction as at 60 years old, and a long time heavy drinker, the alcohol is taking a toll, not the least of which is on my weight, and all the other health issue related to being 40-50 pounds overweight.

Leading up to the holidays, I've been drinking pretty much at my heaviest since tracking last February. (41+ standard drinks per week) Since I am on a break from work, during which time I would normally drink pretty much all day and night, starting around noon, I decided to take advantage of the quiet period to do some extended AF days. Hopefully, after a brief reset, it will be easier with Naltrexone to drink more moderately when I do drink.

The whole discussion about breaking the habit as well as the physical craving was particularly interesting to me, because I DO still drink, even when I'm not craving it that much, and that is largely because it's how I spend my alone time.

I couldn't agree with this statement more.

Q

I think this is the important bit. This is the habit and lifestyle which needs to be changed. It may sound boring but could you take yourself to a 'safe' place when alone?For me this was (a) removing alcohol from the house (b) changing into bed clothes and going to bed either with a book, DVD or to sleep even quite early in the evening. I found this got the process going and after a while I was able to substitute much more productive activities into whatever gaps I had.